Many Americans could receive a one-time check as part of a $68 million Google privacy class action settlement.
To receive the money, class members just need to check their email and fill in their details online.
The lawsuit centers on allegations that Google Assistant recorded users’ conversations on phones and Google Home devices without consent. Plaintiffs argue the voice-activated system could mistakenly turn on and capture audio even when not prompted with phrases like “Hey Google” or “OK, Google,” according to one consolidated class action lawsuit.
Google Assistant users argue that the company violated both user privacy rights and its own stated privacy policies by gathering, sharing, and using the audio data to help improve its speech recognition technology.
While Google has not admitted any wrongdoing, the company has agreed to pay $68 million to settle the dispute and avoid continued litigation.
The settlement creates a compensation fund for eligible users, but not everyone will receive the same amount or even qualify in the same way. People fall into two main categories under the agreement. The first, known as the Purchaser Class Settlement, includes individuals in the U.S. or its territories who bought a Google-made device between May 18, 2016, and March 19, 2026.
The second, called the Privacy Settlement Class, covers users who did not purchase a device but still allege their conversations were recorded or accessed due to unintended activations during the same period.
How much money people may receive depends heavily on which group they fall into and how many valid claims are ultimately filed. According to the settlement terms, device purchasers could receive about $18 to $56 per device, with the final amount shifting based on participation.
Privacy-only claimants would receive significantly less, between and estimated $2 and $10, also depending on how many people submit claims.
To get paid, eligible users must act by August 27. They are required to submit a claim form either online or by mail, using a Unique ID and PIN that should have been sent to their email by the settlement administrators.
Those in the purchaser group may also need to provide proof of purchase, such as a Google Store receipt, order history, bank or credit card statements or a retail receipt showing the device purchase.
Users who do not want to take part in the settlement still have options, but they must also act before the August 27 deadline. They can choose to exclude themselves entirely or file objections if they disagree with the terms. After that, the case heads back to court for a final approval hearing set for October 1, where a judge will review the agreement and decide whether it becomes official.
The Independent has contacted Google for comment.
